Page 46 of Mouth to Mouth

“Hey, man,” Ben answered cheerfully. “Hold on one sec. Let me go into the back.”

Brad waited. His brother was probably busy running the bar that he’d taken over for a friend in the service. What was supposed to be six months was now nearing a year. Ben always took time for him when Brad called.

Regret filled him. Ben was the only family that Brad cared about. And he’d been an asshole.

“Are you there?” Ben asked warmly, returning to the call.

“I’m sorry,” Brad blurted out.

“Hey, man.” Worry filled Ben’s voice. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Looking at the coffee shop in front of him then up at the apartment above, Brad smiled. “I’m okay.” And he was. That didn’t mean he didn’t owe his brother an apology. “But I’m sorry.”

“What exactly are you sorry about?” Ben asked carefully.

There was so much. “For being an asshole?”

“That’s a good start, I guess.” Ben’s laughter had Brad’s shoulders relaxing. It had been a long time since Brad had heard that sound. The last several times they’d spoken, they’d argued. Ben thought Brad was making a mistake giving up dating and finding a new boy. Turned out his brother was right.

“I ran away,” Brad admitted quietly. “You were right.”

“I know.” Ben sighed. “And I get it. Jordan was an ass. That doesn’t mean every guy is like him. I’ve dated some real losers too.”

Brad snorted. Ben’s record was pretty bad. If there was a guy within a mile that was unobtainable, that was the guy that would catch Ben’s eye.

“I don’t need to hear the agreement. I take it things are working out in Surf City?”

“Better than I could have hoped for,” Brad replied.

“And what’s his name?” Ben teased.

“Luca,” Brad said. Just saying his boy’s name made him smile.

“Luca? The clown from the coffee shop that keeps giving you a hard time?”

Oh, shit. Yeah, Brad had called his brother complaining about Luca a time or two. “Yeah.”

Ben laughed louder. “I can’t wait to hear this story. That’s not why you called though. What’s going on?”

“I’m supposed to be taking him on a date,” Brad admitted.

“You? A date? Like a real date?” Ben whistled. “What exactly is happening in that city of yours?”

Brad growled. “I need advice!”

“And you called me?” Ben asked.

Okay, his brother had a point. Ben and dating did not go hand in hand. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all. “I’m not sure that Luca knows this is a date.”

Ben groaned. “How the hell did you manage that?”

“I was trying not to throw up, or run away, just asking!” Brad realized he’d gained the attention of a couple walking past and lowered his voice. “I was nervous.”

When all Ben did was snort while trying to contain his laughter, Brad scowled. Why had he thought his older brother would be any help at all?

“Did he at least agree?” Ben questioned.

“Of course he agreed!”